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• Obama urges Americans to remember the sacrifice of service members

  May 27, 2013 9:08 PM

  ARLINGTON, Va. - President Barack Obama is calling on Americans to remember and honor the sacrifices of the country's fighting men and women. And he says we should "never forget that the nation is still at war," even though the U.S. combat role in Iraq has ended and the country's... more »

• Nicaragua detains US most-wanted suspect

  April 22, 2013 3:05 PM

  MANAGUA, Nicaragua- Police in Nicaragua have detained one of the FBI's ten most-wanted fugitives. Child-porn suspect, Eric Justin Toth, was detained near the Honduran border. Toth is a fomer elementary school teacher in Washington D.C. and now faces accusations he possessed and produced child pornography. He lost... more »

• Get ready to rumble

  April 11, 2013 7:23 PM

  NEW YORK- The U.S. is hosting Iran and Russia in a wrestling exhibition next month in New York City in Grand Central Terminal. Iran hasn't wrestled in the U.S. since the 2003 championships. The U.S. and Russia will square off under experimental rules in response to the International Olympic Committee's... more »

• US home sales rose to 5-year high in 2012

  January 22, 2013 9:04 AM

  WASHINGTON- U.S. sales of previously occupied homes rose in 2012 to their highest level in five years, spurred higher by record-low mortgage rates and steady hiring. The National Association of Realtors says sales reached 4.65 million last year. That's up 9.2 percent from 2011 and most since 2007. Sales are... more »

• 54,000 Mexicans sign petition for US gun control

  January 14, 2013 2:40 PM

  MEXICO CITY - More than 54,000 Mexicans have signed a petition calling on the United States to take further steps to combat weapons trafficking. Mexico says the majority of guns used by the country's violent drug cartels are smuggled over the border from the United States. Mexico's best-known anti-violence activist... more »

• US warns of treaty snub over Internet rules

  December 13, 2012 1:00 PM

  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The chief American delegate at a U.N. conference weighing possible Internet rules says the U.S. may snub the final document over proposals interpreted as giving governments greater oversight over the Web. Ambassador Terry Kramer says references that governments have a right to control the Internet... more »

• Obama: 'Still time' to resolve Iran nuke dispute

  November 14, 2012 2:12 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says there is still time for the United States and Iran to resolve an impasse over Iran's nuclear program. Obama said at a news conference Wednesday that there should be a way for Iran to enjoy "peaceful nuclear power" while still meeting international obligations and... more »

• Thousands sign La. petition to secede from the U.S. Play Video

  November 12, 2012 2:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana became the first of 20 states to petition the Obama Administration to "peacefully grant the state to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government." "Michael E" from Slidell created it and was the first to sign last Wednesday less... more »

• US may soon become world's top oil producer

  October 23, 2012 12:53 PM

  NEW YORK - U.S. oil output is surging so fast that the United States could soon overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest producer. The boom in production is being driven by high oil prices and new drilling methods that are allowing energy companies to unlock oil trapped between rocks.... more »

• Vitter supports Arizona immigration law

  April 24, 2012 3:48 PM

  Washington - U.S. Sen. David Vitter today issued the following statement in advance of the Arizona immigration law heading to the U.S. Supreme Court. "The Arizona law is absolutely constitutional. If President Obama doesn't want states to act on immigration, he should start doing his job and controlling the... more »

• Weekly US oil, gas rig count up by 11

  March 30, 2012 3:02 PM

  HOUSTON - The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is up by 11 this week to 1,979. The Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,318 rigs were exploring for oil and 658 for natural gas. Three were listed as... more »

• Gunman on U.S. no-fly list

  March 22, 2012 5:56 PM

  WASHINGTON - The man suspected killing seven people in France was on the list of known or suspected terrorists who are prohibited from flying to the United States according to a U.S. counterterrorism official. The suspected shooter, Mohamed Merah, had been on the no-fly list since 2010. Merah was killed... more »

• Electronic Social Security payments

  March 1, 2012 10:21 AM

  WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Department of Treasury today kicked off a one year countdown to all-electronic Social Security payments. Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios started the official countdown clock today. On March 1, 2013 all federal benefit recipients must receive their Social Security, and other... more »

• Perry says "no doubt" Obama is an American citizen

  October 26, 2011 1:02 PM

  COLUMBIA, S.C. - Rick Perry now is saying that he has no doubt that President Barack Obama is an American citizen. The Texas governor made the comment in an interview with Bay News 9's "Political Connections" in Tampa, Fla., and the St. Petersburg Times. Perry said that he... more »

• Moody's warns it may downgrade US credit rating

  July 13, 2011 4:50 PM

  WASHINGTON - Moody's Investors Service is threatening to lower the United States' credit rating, saying there is a small but rising risk that the government will default on its debt. The credit rating agency says it will review the federal government's triple-A bond rating because the White House and... more »

• Geithner confident Congress will raise debt limit

  April 17, 2011 9:22 AM

  WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says Republicans are assuring the administration that they will pass an increase in the government's borrowing limit in time to prevent an unprecedented default on the nation's debt. Geithner tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that Republicans gave this assurance to President Barack Obama at... more »

• Forecasters call for 16 named Atlantic storms

  April 6, 2011 12:58 PM

  FORT COLLINS, Colo.- Weather forecasters at Colorado State University are predicting an above-average hurricane season for the Atlantic Ocean. The forecast issued Wednesday is a slightly scaled-back version of the one released in early December. Researchers now predict 16 named storms in the Atlantic, instead of 17. ... more »

• U.S. soccer cancels exhibition game in Egypt

  January 31, 2011 3:07 PM

  CHICAGO (AP) - The U.S. national soccer team has canceled its Feb. 9 exhibition against Egypt in Cairo because of the political turmoil there. The game against the Egyptian national team had been announced on Dec. 13. U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said Monday that "due to... more »

• Obama's economic agenda: Boost US competitiveness

  January 22, 2011 4:16 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says he will use his State of the Union address to outline an agenda to create jobs now and boost American competitiveness over the long term. In an online video released to supporters Saturday, Obama says the economy will be the main topic of... more »

• WikiLeaks reveals sites critical to US security

  December 6, 2010 12:03 PM

  WASHINGTON - In a disclosure of some of the most sensitive information revealed by WikiLeaks so far, the website has released a secret cable listing sites worldwide that the U.S. considers critical to its national security. The locations cited in the diplomatic cable from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham... more »

• Russian, US officials near adoption accord

  November 30, 2010 3:04 PM

  WASHINGTON - The State Department says U.S. and Russian officials will be meeting Wednesday to conclude a new, binding agreement covering adoptions between the two countries. Russia demanded such an agreement after an incident in April when a Tennessee adoptive mother put her 7-year-old boy on a plane back... more »

• US hits Iran with new sanctions

  November 30, 2010 12:13 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is slapping new sanctions on Iran over its suspect nuclear program, targeting Iranian companies for funding the illicit development and spread of weapons of mass destruction. The Treasury announced on Tuesday that it had blacklisted 10 Iranian businesses affiliated with the country's state bank... more »

• Experts say nation unprepared for Gulf spill

  November 19, 2010 12:27 PM

  CHARLESTON, S.C. - Experts at an international conference in South Carolina agree the United States was poorly prepared for the spill that pumped about 170 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The government has assured the public that Gulf seafood is safe, but there were differences... more »

• Iranian leader defends 9/11 statement

  September 24, 2010 12:43 PM

  The Iranian president is defending his remarks at the U.N. in which he claimed most people in the world believe the United States was behind the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. He also is challenging the United Nations to set up a commission to study the attacks. "I... more »

• Louisiana celebrates republic's 200th anniversary

  September 22, 2010 12:38 PM

  After 200 years, the Republic of West Florida is looking for a little respect. Amid the colorful history of Louisiana the little nation has been almost forgotten. On Sept. 23, 1810, 75 armed rebels slipped into the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge, and in what was described as... more »

• American woman held in Iran for year arrives in US

  September 19, 2010 9:55 AM

  An American woman who was held in Iran for more than 13 months and accused of spying returned Sunday to the United States. Sarah Shourd arrived at around 6:30 a.m. at Dulles International Airport near Washington, accompanied by her mother and an uncle, according to a statement released by her... more »

• Colbert, Stewart plan rallies on National Mall

  September 17, 2010 12:49 PM

  TV personalities Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are taking their faux political feud to Washington and plan to hold opposing political rallies on the National Mall just before the November elections. Stewart, host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," interrupted his regular fake newscast Thursday night to announce a... more »

• Hurricane Danielle forms in Atlantic

  August 23, 2010 3:50 PM

  Hurricane Danielle has formed far from land in the Atlantic with winds of 75 mph, and it's expected to strengthen in the next couple of days. Danielle is the second Atlantic hurricane of the year. On Monday afternoon, it was about 1,320 miles east of the Lesser Antilles islands.... more »

• Lt. Gov.: Ban an attempt to change energy policy

  August 18, 2010 8:13 AM

  Louisiana's lieutenant governor says President Barack Obama's continued moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is an attempt to move the United States toward alternative energy at a high economic cost to the state. During a hearing before the state's two U.S. senators, Republican David Vitter and Democrat... more »

• The reign of Spain continues in world soccer

  August 11, 2010 9:45 AM

  World champion Spain has stayed atop the FIFA rankings, and the United States dropped five places in the top 20. Spain led World Cup runner-up the Netherlands, with Brazil third and Germany fourth. The U.S. tumbled to No. 18 because its four wins at the CONCACAF Gold Cup... more »

• Computer hackers look to take over power plants

  August 3, 2010 4:20 PM

  U.S. officials say computer hackers are targeting power plants and other critical infrastructure around the world in bold new efforts to seize control of operations. For the first time, cyber experts have discovered a malicious computer code that was specifically created to take over systems that control the inner... more »

• Oliver Stone: U.S. should nationalize oil resources

  July 20, 2010 1:09 PM

  The Gulf of Mexico oil spill shows that the United States should follow the example of South American socialists in nationalizing its energy industry, filmmaker Oliver Stone said Tuesday. The Academy Award-winning director of "Born on the Fourth of July" and "JFK" said that America's country's natural wealth was... more »

• Pentagon: No worries about Russian nuke cheating

  July 20, 2010 11:52 AM

  A senior Pentagon official is dismissing the significance of any Russian cheating on a new nuclear arms treaty. James Miller, the Pentagon's leading authority on nuclear arms issues, told a Senate committee Tuesday that even large-scale Russian cheating would have no meaningful effect on U.S. security. He said... more »

• US deploys aircraft carrier to South Korea

  July 19, 2010 11:55 AM

  The U.S. is sending the massive aircraft carrier the USS George Washington to South Korea this week. The deployment is considered a show of force in the wake of the sinking of a South Korean warship last March that killed 46 sailors. South Korea and an international team of... more »

• World Cup overall attendance 3rd highest in history

  July 12, 2010 8:57 AM

  The overall attendance at the World Cup in South Africa, was the third highest in history, behind the 1994 tournament in the United States and the last World Cup in Germany. FIFA, world football's ruling body, said Monday that 3.18 million fans attended the 64 matches in South Africa.... more »

• 10 alleged Russian secret agents arrested in US

  June 28, 2010 4:08 PM

  Ten people are under arrest, accused of serving secretly as agents of the Russian government in the United States. Court papers say their assignment was to "search and develop ties in policymaking circles." Under federal law, people can't act as agents of foreign governments in the United States... more »

• United States to face Ghana on Saturday

  June 23, 2010 3:35 PM

  After a 1-0 win over Algeria earlier this morning, the United States learned who they will face in the round of 16. Germany defeated Ghana 1-0 but Ghana still had enough points in the group stage to advance to the second round of the tournament. The Yanks and Ghana will... more »

• U.S. advances to second round of World Cup

  June 23, 2010 11:04 AM

  Landon Donovan scored in the first minute of stoppage time off a rebound, advancing the United States to the second round at the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Algeria. With the U.S. perhaps three minutes from elimination, Jozy Altidore was stopped on a breakaway by goalkeeper Rais... more »

• Louisiana jobless rate rises in May

  June 18, 2010 10:33 AM

  Louisiana's unemployment rate rose to 6.9 percent in May. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday, at the same time, the state added 11,100 jobs last month, one of the best numbers on a percentage basis in the United States. The April unemployment rate - on a... more »

• Turkey wants US condemnation of Israeli raid

  June 1, 2010 9:57 AM

  Turkey is demanding that the United States condemn the botched Israeli raid on an aid flotilla that ended with Israeli soldiers killing nine activists. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made the comments ahead of a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Monday. The White House... more »

• FBI says violent crime rate down again

  May 24, 2010 9:16 AM

  Violent crime rate in the United States is down for the third year in a row, according to the FBI. The decline last year amounted to 5.5 percent for violent crime and the rate for property crime was down 4.9 percent. The FBI collected the crime data from more than... more »

• $100 bill gets a makeover

  April 21, 2010 1:29 PM

  The folks who print America's money have designed a high-tech makeover of the $100 bill complete with disappearing Liberty Bells and magical ribbons. It's all part of an effort to stay ahead of counterfeiters as copying technology becomes more sophisticated and more dollars flow overseas. The makeover was... more »

• State Dept: No suspension of Russian adoptions

  April 15, 2010 10:31 AM

  There has been no suspension of adoptions of Russian children by Americans, according to the U.S. State Department. The statement comes after suspension reports circulated Thursday based on comments from a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson. He was reacting to the case of an American woman who sent her seven-year-old... more »

• Russia suspends all adoptions to US families

  April 15, 2010 6:49 AM

  Russia is suspending all adoptions by American families. The freeze will be in effect until the two countries reach an agreement on adoption procedures. The announcement comes after an American women sent back her 7-year-old adopted Russian son to Moscow on a plane by himself. The adoptive mother said the... more »

• Census of Katrina neighborhoods begins

  March 2, 2010 1:24 PM

  Census workers have started to hand deliver 2010 questionnaires in areas of the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast for the once-in-a-decade population count. The Census Bureau usually mails out forms, but officials decided to go door-to-door in neighborhoods where Hurricane Katrina caused heavy damage. Workers hit the stretts Monday to drop... more »